NATCHITOCHES – Olga Bazhanova and Linda Gamo each posted impressive straight set singles victories Sunday to help Northwestern State post a 5-2 win over visiting Sam Houston State in Southland Conference women's tennis at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.
 
With Gamo among four freshmen in the lineup, Northwestern improved to 11-3 overall and 5-2 in the Southland Conference. Sam Houston slipped to 9-5 overall, 4-4 in conference play.
 
Bazhanova, the team's senior captain, won 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 over Imke Jagau while Gamo posted a 6-0, 6-4 triumph in the No. 6 match to defeat Kayla Stevenson.
 
NSU swept all three doubles matches to open the day with the doubles point. Bazhanova and freshman Polina Konop won 8-3 at No. 1, while freshman Tatiana Larina and junior Andrea Nedorostova won by the same score at No. 2. Gamo and Amy Williams prevailed 8-6 in the No. 3 match.
 
“This is a good win for us,” said Lady Demons coach Patric DuBois. “We started out a little flat and Sam Houston had a real good game plan in each of the individual matches. They got us off our game a little and we had to regroup on each court to pull out some victories.”
 
Larina (1-6, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 2) and Konop (3-6, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3) recovered from first-set losses to prevail in singles play.
 
“Olga Bazhanova and Linda Gamo each played well, but other than that we had to gather ourselves and in the end, we played well enough overall to pull out a 5-2 win today,” said DuBois.
 
Northwestern plays its final two home matches of the season next weekend, Friday against Lamar and Saturday against McNeese.
 
Northwestern State 5, Sam Houston State 2
April 1, 2012 at Natchitoches, Jack Fisher Tennis Complex
 
Singles competition
1. Olga Bazhanova (NSU) def. Imke Jagau (SHSU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Tatiana Larina (NSU) def. Sheridan Currie (SHSU) 1-6, 6-0, 6-1
3. Polina Konop (NSU) def. Natalie Petaia (SHSU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
4. Tatyana Postnikova (SHSU) def. Andrea Nedorostova (NSU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
5. Nadia Dubyanskaya (SHSU) def. Amy Williams (NSU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Linda Gamo (NSU) def. Kayla Stevenson (SHSU) 6-0, 6-4
 
Doubles competition
1. Olga Bazhanova/Polina Konop (NSU) def. Tatyana Postnikova/Nadia Dubyanskaya (SHSU) 8-3
2. Tatiana Larina/Andrea Nedorostova (NSU) def. Natalie Petaia/Sheridan Currie (SHSU) 8-3
3. Linda Gamo/Amy Williams (NSU) def. Imke Jagau/Kayla Stevenson (SHSU) 8-6

Records:
Sam Houston State 10-5 (4-4)
Northwestern State 11-3 (5-2)